Machine for cutting and scoring railway ties



Oct. 31, 1950 H. E. WOOLERY MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND SCORING RAILWAY 'rms 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 14, 1946 rlll n mUHmI E W W u N. M

A mW MA\ HORACE EIWOOLERK DECEASED Oct. 31, 1950 H. E. WOOLERY MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND SCORING RAILWAY 'rms Filed Sept. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuz/vvbc'o HORACE E WOOLERY, DECEASED MVRA L/LL/AN WOOLERKEXECUTR/X Oct. 31, 1950 I H. E. YWOOLERY 2,527,563

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND SCORING RAILWAY TIES Filed Sept. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE E HORACE E. WOOLERK DECEASED MYRA L/LL/AN WOOLERX EXECUTE/X Oct. 31, 1950 H. E. WOOLERY 2,527,668

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND SCORING RAILWAY TIES Filed Sept. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 PIE 4- i t lul L JII lll HORACE E. WOOLERK DECEASED MVRA LIL/JAN WOOLERK EXECUTRI) 5% Quay Oct. 31, 1950 H. E. WOOLERY MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND SCORING RAILWAY TIES Filed Sept. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 HORACE E WOOLERK DECEASED MYRA L/LL/A/V WOOLERK EXECUTE/X W N v a 7 M I mm fi 0 m muHm Patented Oct. 31, 1950 MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND SCORING RAILWAY TIES Horace E. Woolery, deceased, late of St. Paul, Minn., by Myra Lillian Woolery, executrix, St. Paul, Minn, assignor to Woolery Machine Corn- Minn., a corporation of pany, Minneapolis, Minnesota Application September 14, 19 6, Serial No. 697,005

This invention relates to improvements in machines for cutting and scoring railway ties and provides a machine by which the ties may be cut into sections for removal and replacement with new ties and by which the ties may also be scored as necessary in the installation of rail plates where this work is necessary.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, it is frequently necessary to either remove a tie which is so badly worn as to be useless, or to install a rail plate beneath the rail where the tie, while otherwise in good shape, has become Worn beneath the rail due to the pounding of passing traflic. The present practice in tie removal is to sever the tie entirely at the inside of each rail and then remove the tie in sections. By so doing, the ballast is but little disturbed about the tie and a new tie may be put into the trench formed by removal of the old with little added ballasting and tamping required. Where the tie is not badly worn but the rail has become embedded in its upper surface, it is customary to raise the rail and adze off a smooth surface therebeneath upon which may be laid a rail plate of a length or width substantially greater than that of the rail base to provide a firm bearing and footing for the rail when it is spiked down upon the rail plate. In carrying out the latter operation, it is desirable, even actually necessary, to score the tie or form shallow transverse cuts therein to delineate the ends of the surface to be adzed. The present invention provides a machine by which both of these operations may be carried out and which accordingly comprises two saws arranged in proper spacing for scoring the tie both inside and outside of the rail and with the saw at the outer side arranged for convenient removal so that the tie may be cut entirely through by the remaining saw.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a machine for these purposes which is light in weight and compact and which is therefore readily operated along the track for cutting and. scoring the ties, and readily removable from the track when necessary. Still another object is to provide a machine for this purpose wherein the saws are readily adjustable to score the tie at any distance from the adjacent innerand outer sides of the rail to accommodate rail plates of all'standard widths. Still another object is to provide a machine of this kindiwhich is extremely convenient in operation and which may be readily operated by not more than two workmen.

These and other more detailed and specific --3 Claims. (or. 1449133) objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of the machine as positioned upon the rails of a railway and with the' v saws elevated to their transport positions.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine as shown in Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing one of the saws in the process of cutting through the tie forremoval thereof.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the machine as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the lower frame portionof the machine showing one of the wheels for carrying the frameupon the rail and showing the baling outrigger which runs upon the opposite rail.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view partially in section and showing the manner in which the drive for the saws is adjusted according to the spacing thereof. I

Fig. '7 is a detail-view of the saw guides.

The present invention is an improvement or an addition to the machine as disclosed in the prior HoraceE. Woolery Patent #2,207,883 issued July 16, 1940, to which patent reference is invited for comparative purposes.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing the present machine comprises a main or base frame, designated generally at In, including a pair of parallel, closely spaced beams II and [2 rigidly joined and connected by suitable cross bars at appropriate points and designated throughout at 13. Positioned between the side beams I l and [2 at each end of the frame is a flanged wheel [4 having an axle l5 journaled in bearings i6 secured to the beams and these wheels are adapted to ride upon one rail A of a railroad track to support and carry the machine along the track. The machine is balanced transversely by an outrigger arm H which extends laterally from one end of the frame Ill and is provided with a small roller 18 adapted to roll along the opposite rail 13. As best seen in Fig. 5, the outrigger arm I! has vertically spaced forks l9 which are pivoted at 20 HI to facilitate storage of the machine when not in use. A link rod 25 is provided and is hooked at its ends 26 and 21 to an outer end portion of the outrigger arm I! and to a part of the frame In, presently to appear, to hold the outrigger arm in its operative position as will be readily understood.

The main frame In is provided substantially midway between its ends with upright center posts 28 secured at their lower ends. to the side beams II and l2 and suitably braced by angularly extending brace bars 29. n the end of the main frame l0 opposite that toward which the brace bars 29 extended there is mounted a conventional power plant C of the internal combustion type and which is supported upon a base 3|] secured across and joining the side beams H and I2. A countershaft 3| is journaled transversely in bearings 32 secured to the center posts 28 and at one end this countershaft is provided L with a belt pulley33-oyer which operates the drivebelt 34 from the power plant C. Midway between the center posts 28' the countershaft 3| is provided with two belt pulleys 35, and 36 havinghubs 3'! by means of which they may be fixed upon the countershaftand adjusted to any desired relative spacing therealong. Between the center post 28 and the power plant C there is located adrive shaft 38 journaled in bearings 39 se cured atop the side beams II and I2. As best seen in Fig. 6 the drive shaft 38. is parted or split at its center and comprises separate sections 33a and 38b. These two sections are pro.- vided with belt pulleys! and 4i-pinned or otherwise rigidly secured to the shaft sections and providedwith registering apertures 42- through which bolts 42a may be passed to rigidly fasten the pulleys together. With the pulleys 40 and 4| thus secured together'the shaft sections 38a and38b will turn in unison as'will be; apparent. Separate belts 43 and- 43a are trained over the respective pulleys 3540 and 36-4]. and them-- rangement is thus such that the. drive shaft 33 will be rotated by operation of thepower plant C.

A swinging saw support or feed frame designated generally at 44 is provided and comprises av pair of side arms 46 which are pivoted at one end at'4'l on upper ends of the-centerpieceZB sothat the opposite end of this-assembly may swing upwardly and downwardly abouta transr verse elevated axis, The side arms 45 diverge toward their swinging endsand are suitablyrigidly bracedby the diagonal brace structure indicated-generally at 48. The wide spread ends of the arms are rigidly joined-bye cross bar- 49; A

This feed'frame or saw support forms means for supporting the upperends of two depending saw arms indicated at 50 and and for this purpose the side arms 46 are joined neartheir wide spread ends with a rod 52 whereon the upper ends of the saw arms are pivotally mounted. On opposite sides of saw'arms 59-and 5| there are provided collars 53-provided with set screws 54 by which the saw arms may be held against displacement endwise along the rod 52 and also held at any selected respective width adjustmerits; Saw blades; 55' and 56; of exactly the form shown in the previous Woolery patent hereinbefore identified, are removably secured to the lowenends of the support arms 50 and 5| by means of; bolts 51; The lower edges of the saw blades 55 and 56 have suitable cutting teeth 58;an d the structure just described as such that with; the sawsupport or feed frame 44:suitably supported in an elevated. position the saw arms and attached blades may operate in vertical planes at each side of the main frame l0 and parallel with the length of the rail upon which the machine is supported. Thus when the two lower edges 58 of the saw blades are brought down into engagement with the ties, indicated generally at D, the saw blades are so positioned that they will cut into the upper edge of the tie and down thereinto, forming transverse cuts as indicated at E, the depth of which will be determined by the vertical position of the feed frame 44.

The saw arms and 5| are power operated by pitman or connecting rods 59 and 6|] at one end at 6| to the respective saw arms and extending therefrom lengthwise of the machine to points adjacent the ends of the drive shaft 38. These ends of the arms are pivotally attached at 62 to eccentric disks 63 and 64 which are secured by their hubs at the ends of the shaft 38 outwardly of the bearings 39. The pivots 62 are eccentric to-theaxis,ofthe-shaft 38 so that rotation thereof will result in thetranslation of this rotary movement to reciprocatory movement of the pitmans 59=and Bdsuch as to oscillate the saw arms 56- and 5|. I motions of the saw arms is'such that the travel of the two edges of the saw blades will out the ties-from edge to edge as will be apparent.

As-thus far described it will be apparent that with the saw blades and 56in place the entire saw-assembly may be power actuated and'manually positioned vertically to bring the lower edges of the saw blades into contact with the ties D to form transverse scores or cuts in the tiesinwardly and outwardly of the rails over which the machineruns. This scoring of the tie will be carried out. only so far as to penetrate the tie to a depth such that the removal of the wood between the scores will properly accommodate the usual tie; plate (not here shown) which is used to'forma support for the rail when it has embedded itself in the tie. It will be equally obvious that by the removal of one of the saw blades 55' or 56,according to the direction in which the machine isxrun, that the remaining blade may, asseen in-Fig; 4', be caused to out further down intothe tie-and in fact clear to the bottom thereof when itis; desiredto cut the tie into sections for removal.- The scoring operation will require theinitial adjustment of the machine to form the scores or cuts'in the tie at a distance apart suitable to accommodate the rail plates which are to be used. These rail plates vary in length (or width) although commonly a certain length of plate will-be used fora considerable length of the track so that the spacing adjustments now be evident in Fig. 2.

to be described neednot be continually made and once the machine is set up it will, in all cases, be used for a considerable length of time without further adjustment.

The saws may be readilyadjusted toward or away from eachother by loosening the set screws 54' and sliding the collars 53 for each saw arminwardly or-outwardly along the rod 52 as will To maintain the pitman rods 5960 in proper relation to the saw arms 50, and 5| as thereon adjusted the sections 38a and 38b of the drive shaft 38 may be adjusted endwise with respect to each other. It will be understood that with the pulleys 48 and 4| bolted directly together as shown in Fig. 2 the shaft sections 38a and 38b are drawn together to suit the closest necessary spacing for the saws. Then as the saw blades are adjusted further apart for scoring" the ties for longer plates the pulleys The amplitude of these operating 40 and 4| are separated and one or more circular shims or shimdisks 65 are placed between the pulleys as seen in Fig. 6. These shims 65 will, of course, be provided with suitable apertures 66 to accommodate the bolts 43 and as the shims are inserted between the pulleys the shaft sec-. tions 38a and38b may be spread apart in steps to bring'the eccentric ends of the pitman rods 59 and 69 out into proper alignment with the saw arms. Compensating adjustments'of the pulleys 35' and 36 to maintain the belts 43 and. 44 in proper alignment will be made by adjusting the pulleys and securing them upon the counter shaft 3| by their hubs 31 in an apparent manner.

The saws are guided and held against wbbling movements as they operate by means of a saw guide assembly indicated generally at .61 and comprising inner and outer vertically depending guide bars 98 and 69 depended from an overhead cross bar F9 and forming upright guide ways H through which loosely pass the pitman rods 59 and 96 at points immediately adjacent the saws. The inner and outer guide bars 68 and 69 are provided on facing sides with wear straps 12 which are bolted in place as indicated at 13 for convenient removal and which are adapted to loosely engage the pitman rods 59 and 69 as they reciprocate and as they are moved upwardly and downwardly during operation of the saws. These wear strips 12 may well be made of oil impregnated wood and will obviously so guide the pitmans adjacent the saws as to prevent undue wobbling or misalignment of the saws during their cutting operation The guide bars 68 and 69 for each pitman are rigidly joined at their upper ends by a carrier bar 14 of channel iron and which is supported upwardly against the laterally projecting ends of the aforesaid cross bar 19. The cross bar ties the upper ends of the guide bars together and the inner bars 68 have feet 68a which may be bolted at 68b (Fig. '7) to the side bars II and I2 of the frame to support the entire guide structure. Bolts 16 secure the bars 14 to the cross or tie bar I9 and by the provision of a plurality of spaced openings 11 for the respective bolts 68b and 16 it will be apparent that the guide bars may be bolted in place at certain predetermined spacings corresponding to adjustments of the saws for rail plates of standard sizes.

The saw support or feed frame 44 is frictionally retained in any adjusted vertical position by a mechanism now to be described. The bracingmanner so as to draw the slide bars 19 tightly and frictionally against opposite sides of the bar 18. The slide bars 19 are each provided with an elongated longitudinally extending slot-92 through which the bolt 89 passes and the lower ends of the bars are pivotally attached at 83 to a bracket 84 secured to the center of the cross bar supporting the saw guides. The slide bars 19 are thus permitted to swing in vertical and longitudinal planes so as to accommodate themselves to the swinging movementof the bolt 80 about the axis 4'! of the saw support or feed frame as it is raised and lowered and the slots 82 permit this movement of the saw support without interference other than that of the friction upon the guide bars secured by the spring on the bolt 80 connecting the assembly. The

sockets 92 secured on the cross bar 49.

weight of the saw assembly is further counterbalanced by elongated retractile coil springs 85 which are connected at upper ends 86 to the upper extremities of the guide bars 19 and at lower ends are fastened at 81 to the end of a depending stop ,arm 88. The arm 88 is a part of the saw support or feed frameandthe tension of the springs v85 is thus placed between the saw frame and the upper ends of the guide bars 19 which are carried by the frame, in such manner as to bias the feed frame and attached parts in an upward direction. In practice the tension of the springs 85'is such that, supple mented by'the frictional grip obtained by the slide 19 upon the saw boom it will so counterbalance the weight of the saw assembly that it will hang in any adjusted position but may be moved upwardly or downwardly about its pivots 41 by hand and with littleeffort. The springs 85 are partially enclosed by tubular guards 85a so that danger to the operator, should a spring break, is removed. l

The aforesaid stop arm 89 cooperates with a U-shaped yoke 89 which is adjustably mounted between the brace bars 29 by means of'bolts '99. The yoke 89 may be adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 3 when ties are being cut, or swung upwardly out of the way of the stop arm'88, so that the saws may be forced downwardly far enough to cause the saw blades to completely penetrate the ties. On the other hand, when ties are being scored the stop yoke 89 may be adjusted to the position shown in Fig. l whereat it lies in the path of the stop arm 98 and will contact the same to limit downward movement of the saw support or feed frame to the point that the saw blades will enter the tie only a short distance suflicient'for scoring. Thus when scoring ties proper and even scoring depth will be secured without any attention on the part of the operator.

The saw support or feed frame 44 is movably adjusted for feeding the saws to the work or lifting them to support positions by a long handle 9| which may be inserted in any one of three The handle 9| consists of a length of pipe threaded at its end to screw into tapped bores in the sockets 92 and these sockets 92 are transversely spaced along the cross bar 49 so that the handle may be positioned for most convenient operation whether the ties are being scored or cut. Thus when scoring ties the handle 9| might best be I to properly observe the operation of both saws and the feed pressure would be evenly distributed to the saws. On the o-ther'han'd, when cutting the ties the handle 9| may be placed in either of the end sockets 92 over the saw then in use, for the same purpose. It will be noted in Figs. 1 and 3 particularly that the sockets '92 at the ends incline upwardly with respect to the center socket so that the handle 9|, when placed in either end socket, will stand higher in order to allow the saws to be pushed down into the tie during the cutting operation without requiring the operator to stoop down. When the handle 9| is in the center socket for scoring it will then incline downwardly with respect to its position in a purchase for the other hand of the operator enabling him to move the frame along the rails as may be required.

The machine is-provided at each end with handle bars 94 supported at the upper ends of brackets 95 and having wide spread grip portions by which the operators may move the machine along the track, or lift it therefrom whenever'required. Also forming part of the frame assembly of the machine are guard rods or rails indicated at 96 which extend outwardly from the side beams II and I2 and inclose the spaces wherein the saw blades operate. These guards or guard rails 96 are thus properly positioned to prevent the operator from stepping into a dangerous position with respect to the saws. The aforesaid tie or link rod 25 for the outrigger arm 11 is hooked at its end 21 in a bracket 91 which is secured to one of the guard rails. Inasmuch as the machine may be run in either direction along the track, and reversed end for end thereon, provision is made for fastening the outrigger arm I! upon either side of the main frame I and for this purpose there will, of course, be provided brackets 23 and 91 upon both sides of the frame.

The outrigger arm I! is arranged for up and down adjustments at its outer end with respect to the frame and in such manner that the main frame may be tilted by the resulting raising and lowering of the roller [8. For this purpose the clip 2i is provided with adjustment bolts or set screws 98 which are threaded through the upwardly turned end 99 of the bracket 23 and are adapted to bear outwardly against the upper and inner surface of the clip. As best seen in Fig. it will be apparent that the bolts 22 may be loosened and the set screws 98 adjusted to tilt the clip 2| and attached arm I! as may be required to raise and lower the roller I8. Such adjustment of the roller will, obviously, permit the entire machine to be transversely leveled whenever such action is required.

It is further contemplated that the flanged wheels J4 which support the machine upon the rail A may be adjusted crosswise upon theix axles l5 and located at any desired adjustment thereon by suitable means, such as a set scre I00 indicated in Fig. 5. It is thus possible to properly align the machine with respect to the rail and more important this adjustment of the wheels permits the entire machine to be adjusted crosswise with respect to the rail. The latter adjustment is of particular benefit when cutting ties since it allows the machine to be set up to cut the ties as closely as possible inside the rails so that the end sections of the ties may be removed with the maximum of convenience.

The outrigger arm I! may be braced against upward displacement such as would permit the machine to tilt by means of a brace rod [0| attached at I02 to the outer end of the arm and adjustably fastened at 103 to the upper end of one of the center posts 28. The adjustable fastening H13 includes an apertured anchor tube 104 which is attached to the center post and through which the nutted end of the brace rod I01 projects as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This fastening also permits the brace rod to be diS- connected when the outrigger assembly is folded for storage of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is provided by this invention a machine which may be readily operated along the track to either score or cut the ties D and with this selectivity of use possible merely by using one or two saw blades as required. Once the various adjustments herein are made the operation may be carried out by one man at the saw end of the machine, who raises and lowers the saw for each tie. It will be noted that the machine is not clamped either to the rail or to the tie to hold it in working position, as have been previous machines to this inventors knowledge, and it is thus possible for the operator to have complete flexibility of control over the position of the machine at all times and to rock it back and forth along the rail as may be required to insure that the saws cut the full width of the ties but with a minimum of contact with the ballast which, of course, reduces the dulling and Wearing on the saw teeth. It is contemplated that in the operation of the machine it will travel along the track and cut or score the ties as the case may be for considerable distances since it is possible, and it is the accepted practice, to score and cut the ties some time preliminary to either the installation of the rail plates or removal of the. ties and replacement with new ones.

The length of the saw blades is such that when one is removed the other may cut entirely down through the tie, without the saw drive from which the blades is removed contacting the tie and stopping the downward feed movement of the saw assembly.

As shown in Fig. 3 the ballast may be removed at each side of the ties when they are to be cut, providing clearance for the saws.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described the invention, what is claimed to be new and desired to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tie cutting and scoring device of the character described, a frame adapted to be supported upon a railway track, a pair of cutting devices pivotally suspended from the frame for swinging movements at lower ends transversely with respect to a railway tie, a drive shaft jou1- naled on the frame, power actuated means for rotating the drive shaft, eccentrics on the end of the drive shaft, pitman rods connected between the eccentrics and the said cutting devices, said cutting devices being adjustably supported to vary the distance therebetween, and the said drive shaft comprising two separable sections adjustably connected and adapted to be adjusted endwise with respect to each other to maintain the said eccentrics in alignment with the cutting devices as the latter are adjusted.

2'. In a tie cutting and scoring device of the character described, a frame adapted to be supported upon a railway track, a pair of cutting devices pivotally suspended from the frame for swinging movements at lower ends transversely with respect to a railway tie, a drive shaft joure naled on the frame, power actuated means for rotating the drive shaft, eccentrics on the end of the drive shaft, pitman rods connected between the eccentrics and the said cutting devices, said cutting devices being adjustably supported to vary the distance therebetween, the said drive shaft comprising two separate axially aligned sections, separate pulleys secured toadjacent ends of the shaft sections and having drive connections with the said power actuating means, means for securing the pulleys together whereby the shaft sections will operate as a unit, and

means adapted to be positioned between the said pulleys whereby to adjust the shaft sections end-' wise with respect to each other and thereby make compensating adjustments of the distance be: tween the eccentrics as the cutting devices ar adjusted. I

3. In a tie cutting and scoring device of the character described, a frame adapted to be supported upon a railway track, a pair of cutting devices pivotally suspended from the frame for swinging movements at lower ends transversely with respect to a railway tie, a drive shaft journaled on the frame, power actuated means for rotating the drive shaft, eccentrics on the end of the drive shaft, pitman rods connected between the eccentrics and the said cutting devices, said cutting devices being adjustably supported to vary the distance therebetween, the said drive shaft comprising separate axially aligned sections, a pulley secured to the inner end of each section, drive belts operating over the pulleys, the said pulleys being releasably secured together to cause the drive shaft sections to operate in unison but being adjustable endwise with respect to each other to vary the effective length of the drive shaft and thereby maintain the eccentrics thereon in alignment with the cutting devices as they are adjusted, and drive means for the said belts supported for adjustment to maintain the belts in alignment with the said pulleys as the spacing therebetween is adjusted.

MYRA LILLIAN WOOLERY, Ezecutria: of the last will and testament of Horlace E. Woolery, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 93,873 Gaudron Aug. 17, 1869 153,400 Torrent July 21, 1874 758,524 Goldie Apr. 26, 1904 844,100 Collet Feb. 12, 1907 1,018,739 Beugler Feb. 27, 1912 1,021,400 Collet Mar. 26, 1912 1,056,857 Thomas Mar. 25, 1913 1,239,384 Gisch Sept. 4, 1917 1,243,189 Krausch et al Oct. 16, 1917 1,530,475 Billman Mar. 24, 1925 1,830,977 Banfer Nov. 10, 1931 1,841,939 De Koning et a1 Jan. 19, 1932 1,847,971 Mingledorif Mar. 1, 1932 1,978,814 Myers Oct. 30, 1934 2,016,799 De Koning Oct. 8, 1935 2,097,430 Brown Nov. 2, 1937 2,207,883 Woolery July 16, 1940 2,336,652 Talboys Dec. 14, 1943 

